VINEGAR

Jeff and I recently attended a Christmas party with all his co-workers. We enjoyed a delightful evening and all were merry. The guys were all teasing one another and during this I received several comments from his friends like, " How do you live with this guy?" and "I want to shake the hand of the women that was brave enough to marry Jeff!" You see, Jeff is quited the jokester and it doesn't stop at the office. After all the teasing from his friends was done, I started thinking to myself, "Wow, how do I do it?"

My mind then began to reflect on all the many pranks and shenanigans I have endured over the years. I started thinking of the time when I was cleaning up the backyard, and the sprinklers "mysteriously" turned on. My heartfelt prayers while kneeling by my bed, when suddenly a huge "Whack!" to the head with pillow. I started pondering all the Christmases, when he would go to extreme means to find out his Christmas presents. I once left the phone book open, (now mind you, nothing was circled, it was just left open) and he proceeded to go through each and every listing contemplating all the while what I might get from that store until - yup, you guessed it, he figured his present out. Or when he will tell me that he already knows what his present is, or that one of the kids told him, so that I really think he knows and then I go and spill the beans! AAAAAHHHHHHHH! I makes me crazy! I have solved the Christmas problem though. I just stick his presents in the closet, and then go and tell him how many presents he got, and that they are in the hall closet if he wants to see them. (He hates when I do that) Hee hee hee!

Yes living with Jeff has been a trial and sometimes I wonder, why - why do I do this. And then, I think of vinegar. Now, you are probably saying to yourself -vinegar? What does that have to do with anything. Well I will tell you why vinegar is the reason I married my husband.

Back when we were dating, we were on our way home from dinner and I had the worst stomach ache ever. Gas, grumbles, gurgles, you name it. All was not well downstairs. We were not to far from Jeff's parents house and he suggested that we stop and get something for my stomach ache. Now, I have to tell you I was not really excited to go in and tell Jeff's parents that I had the grumbles and really bad gas cramps. I refused and said I would be fine and not to worry about me. He insisted and said he would tell them that he was the one that needed something. I said okay and we went inside. I am thinking to myself, let's just get some Pepto and get out of here.

At the time Jeff's parents were really into all natural health supplements and all sorts of odd remedies. Jeff told his dad he had gas cramps and needed something for his belly. Jeff started looking through the cupboard for some Tums or whatever. His dad said, "No, no, I can give you something that will cure you right up." He then takes down the vinegar and pours about a half a class full. He hands it to Jeff and says to drink up. Jeff said no and that he just wanted some Tums and we would be off, but his dad cornered him and insisted that he drink the vinegar and all would be well. His dad was not going to let him get out of this one. I will never forget the look Jeff have me right before he drank that half a cup of vinegar. I was like the lamb to the slaughter. He was going to drink the vinegar so as not to embarrass me. (He also knew there was no way in heck that I would drink that stuff- no matter how my stomach hurt).


Right then and there, I knew that this was the guy for me. Here was someone who would give you the shirt off his back if you asked him to. He was a keeper. So, although I have to put up with a lot, (and I mean a lot), I will never forget that he took my vinegar for me. That's why I love him - rascal and all.